Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

Hi all,

I'm currently attempting to learn to drive, living in London it never seemed a priority, now in Pennsylvania it does! So I want to get a permit to start driving in Pennsylvania, though as part of the application process I have to undergo a medical. I'm presuming it's nothing major, a simple physical. Anyway called a couple of places, first didn't have any space for a couple of weeks, second had space but said it'd be $200!! Does anyone know if this is a standard price? I was expecting it to be a lot cheaper than that and will pay it if I have to, I just hate that feeling of being ripped off.

Thanks,

James

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

Do you mean it was $200 for the medical?

If you don't have any medical insurance then that's probably right.
If you have insurance then you'll just pay your co-pay.

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

Thanks.

Yes, $200 for the medical. I wouldn't have thought any health insurance company would agree to co-pay on a medical for a drivers permit?

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

Why won't they? They don't even know what it is for. You just go in for a medical. period - end of stence

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

Ok, just called a local chiropractor and they'll do it for $25!! So it's good to shop around, thank goodness PA allow a chiropractor to do the medical!

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

Yes, that.

You just make an appointment with your PCP, tell them it's a physical for your drivers license. Go to your appointment, present your insurance card, pay your co-pay and bob's your uncle.

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

That should give you a hint about just how seriously they take the requirement for a medical and how hard the actual driving test is likely to be ... ;)

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

If you have had an annual physical within the last 12months your PCP may use that to fill in the driver medical form.
Takes seconds and they may not charge you anything. Mine doesn't.

If you haven't had an annual physical then go and have one and get them to do the form at the same time and you will just pay your copay.

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

Particularly when you see all the people lugging their breathing equipment into the driver centre:eek:

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

I had done two, 3 week residential advanced driving courses in the UK. but
they told me I had 'barely passed' in Wisconsin. There was a 16 year old girl there and they said she had passed and was excellent . I had passed my bike test in 1963 and my car test in March 1965 so I had mixed feelings about 'just passing'

Of course they have their local 'things' and if you don't do them they don't like it. To be fair I was warned what they needed but didn't do it. They were really keen on blind spot checking with the head rather than mirrors and that's where I nearly failed. In The UK Police advanced courses including pursuit, they would fail you for indicating when there was no driver front or back and no pedestrians - they said it proved you were not aware of all other road users at all times. They would say 'Who are you signalling to ' ? I got into the habit of not checking my blind spot by turning my head because I knew what was there from a quarter mile back at all times. Hence my near fail


But I agree the test was really easy and the parallel parking was a hoot - huge wide road and huge parking space. I used to drive and park in Paris as part of my job, so having 12 foot back and front instead of 12" was really easy

Getting a foot doc to do a medical is hoot - like if you can see both your little toes at the same time then your peripheral vision must be ok.
But when it comes to impairement, I am sure he would know if something was afoot...etc etc Sorry about the 'corny' jokes

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

S/he said a chiropractor not a chiropodist. :D

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

oh right my glasses must have steamed - cant see 400 yards like that !

ok 'back doctor' jokes ....

Well if it doesnt put the regular doctor's nose out of joint then a chiropracter would be good back up especially if its cheaper - sounds like they lean over backwards to help you at that price

Actually I used one once - total quack - you feel great for an hour then the back ache comes back. The guy rubbed my back for 20 minutes while he talked about his holidays - £25 a time. I went twice. They will be great for after the test though when you have put your neck out with all the blind spot checking

How about a hair transplant specialist or a toe fungus laser treater ? What do bone manipulators know that these guys don't ?

Luckily in Wisconsin/Florida/Washington, I just had to be able to steam a mirror when i breathed out - it sounds tough over there in civilization on the east coast

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

Thanks all for your contributions. I've had my medical with the chiropractor, $25 and all done in 10 minutes with no waiting! Got talking to them as they know my father-in-law, he seems pretty well known in rural PA!! When I got back home had a message from one of the doctors I called yesterday quoting $56, so I had quotes of $25, $56 and £200!! Feel pleased and would advise everyone in PA to get their medical done by a chiropractor, no waiting in a doctor's surgery and much cheaper. Though this was the easy part no matter how easy the knowledge test and practical test are, as a non driver it seems a small mountain to climb at the moment!!

James

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

I was lucky with mine - I work in a hospital so one of my NP mates signed it.

Re: Pennsylvania drivers' permit - medical
 

Just do your homework on the theory test and stop and think before you press the button to answer the question - it's so easy to think 'I know that' and make an entry..

The bike test is harder coz I didnt agree with some of their specimen answers like what do you do if a car load of drunks starts tail gating your bike and you are behind a truck

I would have said sprint round the truck and hope they overshoot when they pass it - but the correct answer was 'slow down' - I mean honestly 'slow down' with a bunch of drunks 6 inches from your back tyre - but I knew thats the answer they wanted so I gave em it and passed

Car theory test is more sensible - so as long as you take your time and did reasonable homework, you will be fine.

Example 'you are standing at a red light and a woman pushes a pram in front of you as the light turns green'

Do you

A blow your horn and drive straight at her
B wait until she has crossed before you move off

I am not kidding when I say a lot of the questions were like that and that is one of em


Well done with the bone DOC - how they tell whether those shaky hands are the 3 bottles of wine you had last night or multiple sclerosis or you have been testing your tazer on yourself, or just nervousness, we will never know